25 Years Ago
Roane County Board of Education members approved a resolution asking the County Commission to work with the school system in developing a plan to build two comprehensive high schools. School board members made it clear that the door was open for participation with Harriman, which had its own city-operated system. Sites for the two proposed high schools had been selected, Superintendent Jess Plemons said, but had not yet been appraised. The location of the sites was not given.
10 Years Ago

By GENE POLICINSKI
First Amendment Center
There’s nothing good to find in the current standoff between the Syrian government and the United States — people there are dying as diplomats ponder, politicians posture and nations take strategic sides.

But consider the value of “free press” and “free speech” in taking to an amazing new level the public debate in the United States over what to do next — a process that in many nations surely would have been a secretive discussion.

By LEE HAMILTON
Center on Congress
As Washington swirls with proposals, counter-proposals, and political brinksmanship in response to diplomatic efforts on Syria, the situation has a lot of people scratching their heads.